Faith Reflections

For some reason I like to read this aligning of peoples. Perhaps it is because I am a student of cultures and I am fascinated by the differences we find among ourselves when there is clearly so much more that is alike about us than is different.

In 2007 I received the gift of being chosen to travel to Japan with some of our students and once there I became acutely aware – as little children leaned out of strollers to stare at my paleness as their parents urged them to avert their eyes from the westerner – that we are each God’s image. In our own unique way. And each of us brings God to the world in our own unique way.

Today we might reflect on what makes us yearn to be different and makes us yearn to be alike.

From a MAGNIFICAT reflection, Saturday, October 11, 2008.

In a community of faith, we learn to worship our God, to forgive one another and to serve those around us. We discover the true dignity of each and every person made in the image and likeness of God . . . Where shall we find strength to move ahead, to bring healing and reconciliation, to live the mission of Jesus to be the face of God’s mercy in the world? . . . In prayer we will find the strength to carry out the mission entrusted to us, to walk in humility and love and to practice mercy with all.

From the homily of Cardinal Sean O’Malley on the occasion of his installation as Archbishop of Boston

We are a wounded church. We are a wounded people. The healer among us is Christ. When we join in his Mystical Body, we bring not only unity, not only healing, we bring peace.